A week ahead of his second professional MMA bout, Ryan Couture spoke with Tapology’s Steven Kelliher about his growing confidence and the expectations many are placing on his shoulders.

After running his amateur record to an impressive 5-1-1, Couture made his professional debut for the California-based Strikeforce promotion last year, defeating Lucas Stark in the first round. Asked if he still felt he had made the right decision with regards to his promotional home, Couture was certain.

“I absolutely feel like that was the right way to go,” Couture said. “The big appeal of going that route was that they do have the Challengers series; it’s operated the way a major promotion should be operated, but it’s sort of a proving ground for those of us who don’t have as much experience. I feel like I get the best of both worlds; I get the exposure of a high-level promotion, but I also get to compete against other guys like me who are just getting their start.

“I think it’s a really smart move that they’ve made to build their own stars in-house rather than relying on castoffs from other promotions. Fans can follow fighters from when they’re just coming up until they make the transition to the major shows.”

Couture also sees the potential of growing into a star for a fast-rising promotion.

“They are making some big moves this year,” Couture said. “I think this heavyweight tournament is going to be huge, and what’s good for Strikeforce is obviously going to be better for me in the long-term.”

Before competing, Couture served an administrative function as one of the chief operating forces of the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although his professional responsibilities did little to assist him in the cage, he feels his unique perspective is something that he can take advantage of during his career.

“I definitely feel like I’ve gotten to see this sport and industry from a few different perspectives, not only from running the gym but also from being around dad and seeing what he’s gone through during his career,” Couture said. “I think all of that stuff will help me down the road in my own career.”

Xtreme Couture has been home to some of the world’s greatest fighters for years, and Couture has often found himself on the wrong end of veterans such as Martin Kampmann, Tyson Griffin, and Jay Hieron during intense sparring sessions. While these sessions are far from fun for the young prospect, they also remind him that he is a part of one of the best fight teams in the world.

“There is such a wealth of experience in that training room every single day that it’s just impossible not to pick things up as you go along, from technical details to their approach to structuring their training camps and diets,” Couture said. “Seeing all of that stuff behind the scenes has allowed me to see what I’m in for.

“One of the biggest things that has helped me was my dad making me a part of his corner crew in our last few events. That was kind of an eye-opener for me in terms of—if I do things right—what could be in store for me on the major cards.”

A question many MMA fans have concerning Couture is whether or not he is serious about pursuing a career at the highest levels of the sport. For Couture, however, the answer will be self-evident with each passing performance.

Will the son bow under the weight of his father's shadow? | Source: MMAWeekly.com

“I’ve come a long way not only technically, but also athletically and physically,” Couture said. “I get more confident all the time and I see that I have the potential to get good enough to hang with the top guys. I need to stay focused, continue to have a good time, and continue improving. I think I can take this pretty far as long as I keep making the right choices.”

“We definitely have to choose the right fights,” Couture continued. “That has always been a concern because putting the name Couture on tickets or Pay Per Views will sell well, so I have a good management team to make sure promoters aren’t throwing me to the wolves. My experiences in this industry help me to see that coming and to avoid it.”

Finally, the most beneficial aspect of Couture’s career–his close relationship and proximity to his father, UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture–could also be its greatest hindrance. Because of his last name, expectations for the 1-0 fighter are extremely high among some fans, appallingly low among others.

“I was hesitant to even get involved as an amateur because I knew there were going to be a lot of expectations based on what dad has accomplished,” Couture said. “After training and fighting I have realized that this is what I love to do, so I will pursue it as long as my body will allow me to.

“It will only have as much effect as I allow it to. People will see that I’m taking this seriously based on my performances. The more wins I can put under my belt and the bigger my highlight reel gets, the more people will see me based on what I’ve actually done rather than who I’m related to.”

Couture takes on Lee Higgins (2-0) next Friday night on Showtime as part of the Strikeforce Challengers series.